Air pollution has a long history in the UK and is still a topical concern. Although significant improvements have been made in the UK and across Europe since the seminal London smog episode of 1952, new pollutants have emerged and current levels are still predicted to have a major impact on public health (and natural ecosystems).

Air quality models were central to the Review of the UK Air Quality Strategy and its conclusion that exposure to future concentrations of particulate matter (as PM2.5) was likely to result in the lost of ~30 million life-years for the UK population (i.e., an average reduction in life expectancy of ~5.5 months), at an estimated cost of between £6.6-£15.4 billion per annum. They are also widely used to demonstrate compliance with air quality standards in impact assessments. This raises issues about fitness for purpose and the estimation of uncertainties.

The talk will describe some of the basic concepts of air quality modelling and available tools. Current developments in the field and some topical illustrations of recent applications will be presented.